Years ago, Bosch set a new standard for American dishwashers. Slowly but surely, other manufacturers caught on and caught up, offering consumers several options in the high-end dish cleaning department. Now, with a complete redesign of their dishwasher line, Bosch may have us considering a replacement of that aging and inefficient dishwasher. Or, at least putting their new models high on the kitchen remodel list.

Upgrades across the Bosch 300-, 500-, and 800-series models include technological advancements that increase quietness, a larger tub design with increased loading capacity, rack enhancements, and improved energy efficiency. The dishwashers are manufactured in New Bern, North Carolina (for more home-grown appliance options, see our earlier feature: 13 American-Made Appliances).

Are you attached to your dishwasher? Please weigh in with your experience in the comments section below.

Above: Bosch completely redesigned their dishwasher's interior with a larger stainless tub and concave interior door, allowing for larger racks that increase the loading space by 3 inches with the same standard exterior size. This improvement applies to all the Bosch models from the 300 series and up. They also made the second rack adjustable to accommodate stemware and increase flexibility in loading.

Above: The exterior redesign includes three new handle options (shown L to R): recessed handle with angled controls, flush handle with hidden controls, and bar handle with hidden controls. They are also available custom-panel ready with hidden controls. Offered in white, black, and stainless, the Bosch 300 Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher features two racks and four wash cycle options; $759.60 for the stainless model with bar handle (shown above R) at AJ Madison.

Above: Bosch has added a third rack to its 500-series and 800-series dishwashers, which increases the loading capability by 30 percent. The Bosch 500 DLX Series Dishwasher with a bar handle and in stainless finish (also offered in white and black) is $849.60 at AJ Madison.

Above: The third rack in the 500- and 800-series Bosch dishwashers has a v-shape that enables you to place long-stemmed glasses on the rack below. It can be used as a cutlery tray for your everyday silverware, or you can use the Duo Flex silverware basket on the first rack while using the third rack for larger cooking utensils, shallow pans, and other items that have been traditionally awkward to place in the dishwasher.

Above: At the top of the Bosch dishwasher pyramid is the Bosch 800-Plus Fully Integrated Dishwasher. Its claim to fame is that it is rated the quietest dishwasher in North America (38dBA) thanks to engineering that includes technology for keeping interior spray from hitting the inside of the door and two motors to eliminate drain noise. It includes a third rack, an interior light, and six wash cycles. It's $1,449 to $2,099m depending on finish and handle selections. Available at AJ Madison or a dealer near you.